Long-term health-related quality of life in patients with advanced esophagogastric cancer receiving first-line systemic therapy

Marieke Pape, Pauline A. J. Vissers, Marije Slingerland, Nadia Haj Mohammad, Peter S. N. van Rossum, Rob H. A. Verhoeven, Hanneke W. M. van Laarhoven

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effect of systemic therapy on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with advanced esophagogastric cancer in daily clinical practice. This study assessed the HRQoL of patients with esophagogastric cancer during first-line systemic therapy, at disease progression, and after progression in a real-world context. Methods: Patients with advanced esophagogastric cancer (2014–2021) receiving first-line systemic therapy registered in the Prospective Observational Cohort Study of Oesophageal-gastric cancer (POCOP) were included (n = 335). HRQoL was measured with the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-OG25. Outcomes of mixed-effects models were presented as adjusted mean changes. Results: Results of the mixed-effect models showed the largest significant improvements during systemic therapy for odynophagia (− 18.9, p < 0.001), anxiety (− 18.7, p < 0.001), and dysphagia (− 13.8, p < 0.001) compared to baseline. After progression, global health status (− 6.3, p = 0.002) and cognitive (− 6.2, p = 0.001) and social functioning (− 9.7, p < 0.001) significantly worsened. At and after progression, physical (− 9.0, p < 0.001 and − 8.8, p < 0.001) and role functioning (− 15.2, p = 0.003 and − 14.7, p < 0.001) worsened, respectively. Trouble with taste worsened during systemic therapy (11.5, p < 0.001), at progression (12.0, p = 0.004), and after progression (15.3, p < 0.001). Conclusion: In general, HRQoL outcomes in patients with advanced esophagogastric cancer improved during first-line therapy. Deterioration in outcomes was mainly observed at and after progression. Implications for cancer survivors: Identification of HRQoL aspects is important in shared decision-making and to inform patients on the impact of systemic therapy on their HRQoL.

Original languageEnglish
Article number520
JournalSupportive Care in Cancer
Volume31
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2023

Keywords

  • Esophageal cancer
  • Gastric cancer
  • Quality of life
  • Treatment failure

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